The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-03
YEAS.

Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, offered a resolution
calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for GER
land grants in Iowa. Adopted.
The Senate then resumed consideration of the
sundry civil bill
Mr. Allison, chairman of the committee on
appropriations. said the Senator from Connec-
ticut Mr. Plattl had inquired of him, yester
day, whether or not there would be surplus in
the Treasury in case Congress made approprla-
tons this session in accordance with the esti
mate of the departments. In his Mr.. Alson'sl
desire to complete the bill last night, he had
failed to answer that inquiry as fully as he
could have done. The regular estimates of the
departments, as submitted by the Secretary of
the Treasury, amounted. in round numbers, to
1876, 00O, 900. Since that time there had been
supplementary and other estimates amounting
to considerable sum. For example, there was
an estimate Of nearly S., 600 900 carry ont the
innate had been yet, submitted as
to the disabilities pension bill, which
both houses had passed, but which had
not yet received the signature of the Presi-
dent. 1t was safe to assume, however,
that seven or eight million dollars would be re-
| quired for that purpose Then there had been
| already submitted estimates for deficiencies
amounting to 81. 600 600 more, so that the total
of the estimates for the next fiscal year without
/ including miscellaneous appropriations amount
| ed to 1895 600, 000 He thought it safe to as
| sumo. however. that Congress would not appro-
| pirate fully up to the estimates. ~ will not say
/ that the estimates of the departments are ex-
| travagant though I will say that in some re-
/ spects they are in excess of estimates hitherto
| made by the departments in some cases, and are
| perhaps in excess of the immediate necessities
| of the government. The estimates, as said
for the next fiscal year. are 1895, 000, 000 Judg
ing from the estimates made last year. and from
| the receipts up to the first of January last, the
| receipts for next year, including the estimated
postal revenue will be $40 900 900, making q
surplus of SIS, 900, 900. If Congress should deem
it necessary to expend larger sum than S.. 900,
600 for coast defenses, that larger sum would in
crease the estimates beyond 1885, 000 900; and il
we should appropriate more than $40, 600, 900 fol
/ the navy, that overappropriation must be added.
Mr. Platt-I am glad to have listened to this
very soothing exposition of the prospective rev
enues and expenditures for the next fiscal year
Now. if we are not to have for the next fsca
year surplus exceeding $50, 900. 900 want to b
reckoned as an opponent of any scheme that will
lessen that surplus, and DO not want this Con
gress to adjourn until it has provided in som
way that a sum equal or nearly equal to fifty
millions shall be Immediately available to com
menee a system of coast defenses. / think tina
Congress will be negligent of it's duty; will b
! justly and severely criticised by the people; vii
have forgotten the best interests of the country
if it shall adjourn without having made such
: provision. And I, for one, want to DE counte
as opponent of any scheme that will reduc
the revenues of this government TO a poin
where there will not be plenty of money to III
, augurate and carry on most vigorously thol
,, | ough system of coast defenses.
Mr. Beck thought the Senator from Iowa M
Alsonl was mistaken in his estimates of e,
penditures. He thought he could show that tn
surplus revenue this year would be nearer $50
000 900 than $l5. 600, 600.
t Mr. Teller said that in all calculations as
! the revenue and Its reductions the Sena,